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Africa Athletics Region 2 elected Chief Tonobok Okowa as its new president at an election held in Accra, Ghana.
Okowa, who is the President of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) since 2021, bagged nine votes to beat Vierin DeGon of Benin Republic with six in a second round of voting on Saturday.
SportNews Africa understands Okowa had contested against Vierin DeGon of the Benin Republic, Togo’s Tchanile Salifuo Falilatou and Oually Sara of Senegal in the first round. Both Okowa and DeGon had pulled six votes each in the first round, before the Delta State Sports Commission eventually won the polls after another tight rerun.
Following his emergence as President of Africa Athletics Region 2, Okowa automatically becomes the vice president of the Confederations of Africa Athletics (CAA).
“I am grateful to God and all those who made this victory possible. This will surely spur me to do more for athletics, not only in Nigeria but in West Africa and the entire African continent.”
Former AFN president, Solomon Ogba, who was part of Nigeria’s delegation to Accra, attributed Okowa’s victory at the polls to his strings of achievements since he became the AFN president in 2021.
Also, Sunday Dare, the excited Nigeria's minister for Youth and Sports congratulated the Delta state-born sports administrator, stressing the development is good tidings to Nigeria sports.
“I’m glad at this victory and I’m also not surprised that Okowa has ascended to the level of international leadership in athletics. He has paid his dues from the grassroots, in Delta State and now he is performing creditably at the national level," Okowa said.
“He has performed well since he emerged president of the AFN. Nigeria had a good outing at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, our athletes were incredibly fantastic at the Commonwealth Games and even at the African Youth Athletics Championship. Without doubt, his role in these successes were major.”
